Dissolved organic carbon in interstitial waters from sediments of Middle Valley and Escanaba Trough, Northeast Pacific, ODP Legs 139 and 169

Oxidation measurements of nonvolatile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have been determined by high temperature combustion for pore waters from sediments of Middle Valley and Escanaba Trough, Northeastern Pacific, sampled by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Legs 139 and 169, as well as for overlying and near bottom seawater. The DOC values in the interstitial waters are generally greater than those in the overlying water column, ranging from 0.1 to 158 mg of C per liter (mg C/L). Some of the profiles of DOC in the pore waters are similar to total organic C and total inorganic C profiles. DOC maxima at shallow depths of Site 858 are probably enriched due to higher temperature alteration of organic matter. At Sites 856 and 1035, the DOC increases at greather depths due to the hydrothermal activity. The DOC values correlate with MnO and MgO profiles in Hole 856B. The changes below 30 mbsf in the DOC depth profiles of Sites 858 and 1036 parallel those of the volatile hydrocarbon gases. The reference Site 1037 in Escanaba Trough has DOC values that increase with depth according to the increase in thermal stress.